Thornton-pickardmfg. Co. Folding Ruby
The Thornton-Pickard Folding Ruby is a British-made folding plate camera, a body type produced in the late 19th and early 20th centuries when folding bellows designs were standard for serious amateur and professional photography. Thornton-Pickard, based in Altrincham, was known for plate cameras and focal-plane shutters, and the Folding Ruby sat within their range of wooden-bodied folding plate cameras.
Sales evidence for the Folding Ruby is extremely thin: a single recorded UK auction hammer result from December 2002 sold for £152, and no further data points are available to establish a current 2026 range or median. With only one historic sale at saleroom level, today's value is uncertain and condition-dependent, so prospective buyers asking what a Folding Ruby is worth or how much one sells for should treat that figure as a dated reference rather than a reliable guide to current price.
Sales History
Prices shown are UK auction hammer results — the wholesale level achieved in the saleroom. Neither buyer’s nor seller’s commission is included. Dealer and retail asking prices are typically higher.
Prices updated: December 2002
| Date | Price | Source | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 2002 | £152 | Christie's | |
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Auction: THE BRITISH CAMERA 1840-1960 THE JIM BARRON COLLECTION (Lot 87) Title: Folding Ruby hand camera
Description:
Folding Ruby hand camera Estimate: £100 - £150 |
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| Jul 2001 | £105 | Christie's | |
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Auction: CAMERAS & PHOTOGRAPHIC EQUIPMENT (Lot 375) Title: Unit Folding Ruby hand camera
Description:
Unit Folding Ruby hand camera Estimate: £150 - £200 |
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Frequently asked questions
What is a Thornton-Pickard Folding Ruby worth today?
Evidence is limited to one UK auction hammer sale at £152 in 2002, so a reliable current value cannot be quoted; condition, completeness and the fitted lens will drive any price achieved today.
How much does a Folding Ruby sell for at auction?
With only a single recorded sale in our data, we cannot give a meaningful range; the one documented hammer price was £152, but a single result is not a dependable benchmark.
Is the Folding Ruby a collectible camera?
Thornton-Pickard wooden folding plate cameras attract specialist collectors of early British photographic equipment, but demand is narrow and prices are highly sensitive to condition and originality.